Precision implant needle and method of using same in seed implant treatment of prostate cancer

Abstract

The needle combination includes an insertion stylet which has a small diameter and is rigid. The tip of the insertion stylet is sharp for ease of insertion into the prostate. A needle sleeve has a larger diameter than the insertion stylet and is inserted into the prostate around the insertion stylet. A needle is loaded with radioactive seeds and spacers and is inserted, along with an implant stylet, into the sleeve after the insertion stylet has been removed. The needle and the sleeve are then removed together, while holding the implant stylet in place, so that the seeds are deposited in the prostate in desired locations.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A needle kit for use in radioactive seed implant treatment of prostate cancer, comprising: an insertion stylet adapted for insertion into the prostate in a desired location;   a needle sleeve having a larger diameter than the insertion stylet, the needle sleeve adapted for insertion into the prostate over the insertion stylet;   a needle in which radioactive seeds are loaded for implanting into the prostate, the needle being slightly smaller in diameter than the sleeve, so that when the insertion stylet is withdrawn from the sleeve, the needle can be inserted into the sleeve to a desired position therein;   an implant stylet configured and arranged for partial insertion into the needle and such that when said needle and said sleeve are withdrawn from the prostate along the implant stylet, the radiactive seeds are deposited in desired locations in the prostate.   
     
     
       2. A needle kit of claim 1, wherein the needle comprises transparent material so that proper loading of the seeds therein can be readily visually confirmed. 
     
     
       3. A needle kit of claim 1, wherein the insertion stylet is rigid and has a smaller diameter than the needle, permitting convenient and accurate insertion of the insertion stylet into the prostate. 
     
     
       4. A needle kit of claim 1, wherein a near end of the sleeve has a hub portion thereon and the needle has a mating end portion for locking onto said hub portion of the sleeve, resulting in the sleeve and the needle being readily movable together. 
     
     
       5. A needle kit of claim 1, wherein the insertion stylet and the sleeve both have distal end portions which are sharpened, for ease of insertion into the prostate. 
     
     
       6. A needle kit of claim 1, wherein the implant needle and the implant stylet both have distal ends which are blunt. 
     
     
       7. A method of treatment of prostate cancer using radioactive seeds, comprising the steps of: inserting an insertion stylet into the prostate to a desired location;   inserting a sleeve having a larger diameter than the insertion stylet into the prostate over the insertion stylet;   removing the insertion stylet from the sleeve;   inserting a needle preloaded with radioactive seeds with a partially inserted implant stylet into the sleeve to a desired location within the prostate;   maintaining the implant stylet in position while withdrawing the needle and the sleeve, leaving the seeds previously in the needle in place in the prostate and removing any portions of the needle, sleeve and implant stylet still remaining in the prostate therefrom.   
     
     
       8. A method of claim 7, wherein the insertion stylet is rigid and has a diameter which is smaller than the needle. 
     
     
       9. A method of claim 7, wherein the needle is transparent, permitting visual inspection of the loaded seeds in the needle. 
     
     
       10. A method of claim 7, including the step of securing the needle to the sleeve upon insertion of the needle, so that the needle and the sleeve can be withdrawn together from the prostate along the implant stylet. 
     
     
       11. A method of claim 7, wherein the insertion stylet and the sleeve both have distal ends which are sharpened and the needle and the implant stylet both have distal ends which are blunt.